Michael Jackson songs have been dropped from multiple New Zealand radio stations including The Breeze, More FM, ZM, The Hits, Flava and Coast.
The stations, operated under MediaWorks or NZME, have made the decision amid a new HBO documentary that rehashes child molestation allegations against the pop star, who died a decade ago. The documentary will play on TVNZ1 on Sunday and Monday.
The decision comes as a new HBO documentary outlines child molestation allegations against the late singer.
"We [Mediaworks] aren't deciding whether Michael Jackson is guilty of paedophilia," MediaWorks Group Content Director Leon Wratt told Magic Talk's Peter Williams, according to Stuff. "We're just making sure our radio stations are going to play the music people want to hear."
He added that the stations have not been playing Jackson's songs "for a little while now".
An NZME representative reiterated MediaWorks' statement, saying Kiwi listeners' tastes vary every other week, and "right now, Michael Jackson does not feature on them".
Three Canadian radio stations have also made headlines by pulling Jackson's songs following the release this week of HBO's Leaving Neverland.
* Leaving Neverland will screen on TVNZ 1 this Sunday and Monday. It will also be available on TVNZ OnDemand.
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